[24/11/2017, Tirana] Albania: A parliamentary seminar against hate

[24/11/2017, Tirana] Albania: A parliamentary seminar against hate

A seminar on the Albanian legislation with regard to the fight against intolerance, discrimination and hatred, organised by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in co-operation with the parliament of Albania and the No Hate Parliamentary Alliance, will take place in Tirana on Friday 24 November 2017.

"The positive developments in the country testify of the Albanian authorities' political will to fill the gaps and improve the legal framework in this area. Legislation and policies are still needed and the work to this ends should continue," said Gabriella Heinrich, General Rapporteur on combating racism and intolerance, coordinator of the No Hate Parliamentary Alliance.

The seminar – the last in a series of four held in Tirana, and in Rome to implement the Assembly's part in the Council of Europe Action Plan for Albania 2015-2017 – will bring together parliamentarians, institutions and local and international experts to look at what needs to change in the country's laws to bring them into line with international standards.

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)'s work on Albania and on hate speech will be among the main references for the discussion among participants. The experience of the No Hate Speech Movement campaign in Albania and in other Council of Europe member States, as well as the previous national seminars of the Alliance (Rome, Paris, Sarajevo, Berlin) will contribute to the exchanges.

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A press conference will be organised at the end of the seminar at 6pm, which will take place in the Parliament (Blv. Deshmoret e Kombit, Nr. 4, 1000 Tirana), from 10 am to 6 pm.